Arsenal skipper Laurent Koscielny’s agent has revealed that there was ‘a genuine possibility’ that he could have left North-London based club this summer.
Over the years, Koscielny has become as ‘most reliable man’ just ahead of last line of defence. He is suffering a long term layoff having sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon against Atletico Madrid back in May.
Koscielny was forced to withdraw from World Cup winning French squad and is expected to be sidelined until next calendar year.
Laurent joined Arsenal in 2010 but his agent, Stephane Courbis, has revealed that his time with the Gunners was close to being cut short this summer.
“Laurent was perhaps playing the final matches of his Arsenal career,” Courbis told France Football.
“He started thinking about a possible departure from Arsenal at the same time as Arsène Wenger. It was the right moment, the final moment to leave with the arrival of the new manager.”
Despite being open to a move away from Arsenal, Courbis made it clear that his client won’t play for another English club other than Arsenal and instead move to China or France with later the most favorable destination.
“I had already anticipated this, with two or three offers that were starting to make us think. We were open to different options, China as much as France.
“He could not see himself playing for another English team other than Arsenal.
“Since the approach from Marseille last season, the notion of returning to Ligue 1 entered his thinking. It was a genuine possibility.”
Arsenal have looked vulnerable in the defence this season and Unai Emery getting back Laurent Koscielny would be a big boost to steel the shaky backline.
